Napster and BMW have released the SIM card powered Online Entertainment system.

ConnectedDrive enables direct access to more than 20 million songs, hundreds of music channels and playlists created by the Napster editorial team, as well as thousands of audio books.

The connection from the car to Napster is built via a fixed SIM card which enables the optimal data rate at any time. Users must have ConnectedDrive Services and the navigation system Professional (BMW’s fully integrated navigation system) to access the service.

“The cooperation with BMW ConnectedDrive allows premium users’ access to their favorite music inside the car at all times,” said Patric Niederländer, vice president for business development in Europe, at Rhapsody International.

“Additionally the music offer with Online Entertainment is also available for all other Napster supported devices such as smartphones, tablets, TVs or PCs.”

With the entry of an e-mail address, a first time user of Online Entertainment will be able to access Napster free for one year. Unlike several other smartphone solutions, Online Entertainment offers unlimited music, and so doesn’t restrict the number of song selections or the data speed. Also, the usage outside of Germany – in the UK, The Netherlands, Spain, France or Italy – is free of charge with complete access to Napster.

As soon as a song has been selected via Online Entertainment it is downloaded to the hard disc of the Professional navigation system inside the car. While the selected song is being played, the rest of the album is downloaded for uninterrupted listening.

The hard disc archive – which can save up to 10,000 songs – is expanded and songs saved to the hard disc can be streamed offline in additional countries. Online Entertainment can be controlled with the iDrive System and the Control Display, which can be found in the main menu under multimedia.